Chapter 252: The Legendary Mystical Martial Arts

Chapter 252: The Legendary Mystical Martial Arts

Li Xuan returned to his manor with excitement, sitting down in a chair as he examined the array plate in his hand. Although it was the most basic array plate, it was still the first of its kind to appear in the Spirit Realm, marking the beginning of his mystical martial arts journey. He couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the turn of events.

"Finding disciples is truly dependent on fate!" Li Xuan mused to himself. He was beginning to understand why the most powerful masters in the world often spoke of finding disciples as a matter of destiny.

"When fate brings people together, everything falls into place. These four disciples will surely bring glory to the mystical martial arts!" Li Xuan tapped the array plate with his finger, infusing it with his spiritual energy. In an instant, eight sub-arrays shot out and landed in eight different directions around the manor.

Buzz!

The Confusion-Inducing Array activated!

Su Lingxiu, who had been refining pills, suddenly paused, and with a bang, her pill furnace overturned. She had made a mistake during pill refining, which was unprecedented.

Pill refining had become second nature to her, and she could do it with her eyes closed without making a single error. Yet, just now, she had misjudged the location of the pill furnace and struck it with her palm.

"Something's not right!" Su Lingxiu's heart skipped a beat as she looked around, sensing that the manor seemed to have... changed somehow.

"Why is this tree here now?"

"What's going on with that war puppet?"

Su Lingxiu furrowed her delicate brows.

She released her spiritual sense, finally realizing what was happening. The entire manor seemed to be affected by an unknown force, creating a confusing and inverted illusion. The spot where she had seen the war puppet was actually where Shi Er was practicing his knife techniques.

"Is it an enemy attack, or something else?" Su Lingxiu's heart turned cold as she became alert.

Her spiritual sense spread out, and she held an iron hoe in her hand, surrounded by fine golden needles.

Suddenly, all the illusions of confusion and inversion disappeared, and Su Lingxiu looked towards her master, who was sitting calmly in a chair.

She ran over and asked, "Master, was there an enemy attack just now?"

Li Xuan smiled mysteriously and pointed outside the manor. "Go outside and take a look, and you'll understand."

Su Lingxiu was puzzled but did as she was told. She left the manor and, from mid-air, looked down at it.

What she saw shocked her. From the outside, the manor had changed. The spot where the manor used to be was now occupied by several large trees, and the manor itself had appeared where the trees used to be.

Shi Er and the others were nowhere to be seen, as if they were hidden among the grass and trees. The spot where Master was sitting was now empty.

"What's going on?" Su Lingxiu was stunned. The manor was clearly right there, but at a glance, its position had changed.

If she hadn't been so familiar with the manor and known it beforehand, she might never have noticed anything amiss.

She extended her spiritual sense and discovered an unknown force covering the manor, causing the scenery within to appear inverted and confusing.

"Master, what is this?" Su Lingxiu asked curiously.

"It's an array formation," Li Xuan replied with a smile.

"An array formation?" Su Lingxiu was perplexed.

Li Xuan explained the concept of array formations to her briefly. "Array formations have their own mysteries. Your fourth junior brother has a talent for this path, and if you're interested, you can ask him for guidance once he joins us. Learning some simple array formations can be beneficial."

Li Xuan's smile was radiant.

The time for array formations to make their appearance in the Spirit Realm had come.

"Master, you've taken on another disciple?" Su Lingxiu smiled, "I'm the senior disciple now. That's wonderful."

"Fang Hao has good talent, and it's quite a coincidence that we met. It's about time the mystical martial arts had a successor," Li Xuan nodded.

The next day, in a remote courtyard at the end of Nanfang City in Zhenguo's capital, Fang Hao bid farewell to his residence with a hint of reluctance. Today, he would be leaving.

The opportunity to change his destiny had finally arrived.

He placed the Spring Night Mirror on a stone table in the courtyard and left a few lines of text as a message for Shen Haizhou.

That Young Master Shen had been kind to him, and Fang Hao had earned quite a few spirit crystals from their dealings.

As a token of gratitude, he decided to give the Spring Night Mirror to Shen Haizhou.

"Ribbit!"

Little Ha let out a soft croak, having already swallowed all the items Fang Hao had given it.

"Master!" Fang Hao bowed respectfully to Li Xuan, who had just arrived.

"Let's go," Li Xuan nodded.

Today, he would be imparting the mystical martial arts to his fourth disciple.

"Yes!" Fang Hao replied respectfully.

Back at the manor, Su Lingxiu was already waiting to meet the fourth disciple. Shi Er, Zhou Ying, Meng Shushu, and Chi Cat were also curious to see who it was.

"Fang Hao," Li Xuan said, pointing to the chubby boy behind him.

"This is your third senior disciple, Su Lingxiu. She's a Elixir Doctor martial artist."

Li Xuan introduced Fang Hao to the group.

When Fang Hao saw the breathtakingly beautiful third senior disciple, his face turned red.

"Fang Hao, pay your respects to your third senior disciple!" Su Lingxiu put on a stern face and tried to exude the aura of a senior disciple. "Remember, as a new disciple, you must listen to Master and also heed my words!"

"Yes, yes!" Fang Hao replied, looking a bit shy.

Li Xuan's mouth twitched as he watched the shy little fatty, remembering Fang Hao's lecherous expression when they first met. Especially when he had looked at the Spring Night Mirror and seen the nude beauties within.

After the senior and junior disciples had gotten acquainted, Su Lingxiu's attention turned to Little Ha, her face filled with curiosity. She poked Little Ha's belly with her finger.

"So, this is the Toad of the Mountain. It looks a bit different from what I expected."

"His name is Little Ha," Fang Hao explained.

"Little Ha, come here and let me take a look." Su Lingxiu reached out to grab Little Ha, but he dodged and hid behind Fang Hao's neck.

"He's shy around strangers," Fang Hao said with a shy smile.

"Shy, huh?" Su Lingxiu narrowed her eyes and took out several pills.

"Little Ha, look what I have here."

Little Ha poked his head out from behind Fang Hao's neck, his lively eyes fixed on the pills in Su Lingxiu's delicate palm. He couldn't help but look eager.

"Do you want them? Come and get them if you do," Su Lingxiu beckoned with her finger.

Little Ha stared longingly but didn't dare to approach.

"You're so timid," Su Lingxiu teased, pinching a pill and tossing it to him.

Little Ha opened his mouth and swallowed the pill, and soon, his eyes began to glow, and drool almost dripped from his mouth.

"Come and get it if you want it," Su Lingxiu said, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Little Ha hesitated, and Su Lingxiu threw another pill to him.

After eating two pills, Little Ha's courage grew, and he couldn't resist the temptation. He jumped onto Su Lingxiu's palm and croaked softly.

Fang Hao was dumbfounded. He had never seen pills have such a powerful allure, and it was the first time Little Ha had willingly approached someone other than himself.

Red Cat immediately became anxious and rubbed against Su Lingxiu's leg, meowing.

"Red Cat wants some too," Su Lingxiu said, playing with Little Ha and Red Cat as she fed them pills one after another.

Li Xuan held a jade scepter in one hand and kept the other hand behind his back as he strolled leisurely towards the peak of the mountain outside the manor, with Fang Hao following closely behind.

"Everyone aspires to be part of a Spirit Master clan or a noble family," Fang Hao continued. "Even those of humble origins dream of rising to their ranks. But once they do, they turn their backs on their past and look down on solitary cultivators. It's a sickness in the martial arts world."

With a determined glint in his eyes, Fang Hao concluded, "Master, I've always believed that this is a sickness in the Spirit Realm's martial arts community. While I once desired to establish my own noble family, I no longer wish to emulate the current ones."

Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked, "And what is your dream now? Is it to establish a revered noble family or to pursue the pinnacle of martial arts?"

Fang Hao took a deep breath and said, "Ever since I was introduced to array formations, my aspirations have shifted. I yearn to uncover the true essence of martial arts, to forge new paths, and to leave an everlasting legacy in the annals of martial arts history. I want to master array formations and make them flourish. I aim to become an immortal legend in the world of martial arts!"

At that moment, Fang Hao's gaze was resolute, and he had found his true life's ambition. His slightly chubby face wore an expression of solemn determination.

"Excellent!" Li Xuan nodded, his eyes shining with approval. "As your master, I impart not just techniques but the underlying principles. Remember this well: you must strive to understand the 'Dao' and forge your unique path.

"The esoteric martial arts encompass array formations, artifact refining, restrictions, and more. What I pass on to you are the fundamental principles, and within these principles lie the techniques.

"If you desire a specific array formation, seek it within the Dao. The same goes for restrictions, artifact refining, and the mysteries of heaven and earth..."

Before imparting the esoteric martial arts to Fang Hao, Li Xuan took the time to explain his approach to mentorship. "Remember, I teach you the way, and within this way lie the techniques. Whether it's array formations, restrictions, or artifact refining, the key lies in comprehending the underlying principles. Once you grasp these principles, everything will become clear."

"Yes, Master!" Fang Hao's heart raced with excitement.

"This is the true essence of passing on the Dao and accepting disciples," Li Xuan continued. "It's not merely about transmitting fixed techniques. As your master, I hope that you will ultimately forge your own path."

In that moment, Li Xuan's stature seemed to grow in Fang Hao's eyes, and he felt a profound sense of respect for his master.

"Listen closely, for I shall now impart to you the esoteric martial arts," Li Xuan said, his expression solemn.

High above in the spiritual realm, the golden book of the Dao opened, and the esoteric martial arts techniques began to materialize.

Li Xuan meticulously explained each word and phrase, imparting the entire theoretical framework and foundational practices of the esoteric martial arts to Fang Hao.

Fang Hao listened intently, his expression solemn as he committed every word to memory.

"This is the esoteric martial arts," Li Xuan concluded. "It's profound and intricate. How does one even begin to comprehend it?"

The more Fang Hao listened, the more overwhelmed he felt. The esoteric martial arts were incredibly abstruse and complex. Just grasping the basics seemed like an insurmountable task, and he had no idea how to even start cultivating it.

"...Fang Hao, have you committed it all to memory?" Li Xuan asked after finishing his explanation.

"Master, I have memorized it," Fang Hao replied respectfully.

Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction. The fact that Fang Hao could remember everything after a single explanation attested to his exceptional talent, which aligned with Li Xuan's expectations for his disciples.

"Previously, I taught you the Confusion-Inducing Array, which is a minor array," Li Xuan said. "Today, I shall impart to you several other array formations. Study them carefully and strive to comprehend them.

"The path of array formations is profound and mysterious, and what I have taught you is just the beginning," Li Xuan continued. "Use this foundation and the understanding of array principles to discover and create new array formations.

"The same applies to restrictions and artifact refining. Esoteric formations and the mysteries of heaven and earth are also within your grasp.

"They are not set in stone, and once you understand the underlying principles, you will find that everything becomes clear. Different environments call for different array formations, restrictions, and so on.

"Take your third senior disciple, for example. In the realm of pill concoction, she can create pill formulas with ease, and if a pill does not exist, she can invent it herself.

"This is because she has comprehended the Dao of pill concoction."

Fang Hao's expression was solemn as he replied, "Yes, Master. I will not let you down."

"Now, behold the nine grand arrays," Li Xuan said, nodding.

With a thought, nine grand array diagrams appeared in the air, each one intricate and complex.

Fang Hao studied them intently, but these diagrams were far too intricate to commit to memory in a short time. Unless he had already comprehended the esoteric martial arts and established a foundation in array principles, memorizing these grand arrays would be nearly impossible.

Li Xuan was well aware of this.

"How much have you memorized?" Li Xuan asked after a quarter of an hour.

Fang Hao's face reddened with shame as he replied, "I'm sorry, Master. I was only able to remember half of the array diagram."

"Being able to recall half is already commendable," Li Xuan said with a slight nod. "Work hard and continue to diligently study the esoteric martial arts."

Li Xuan's expression softened slightly as he added, "I will draw the array diagrams for you when I have time, so you can study them in detail. First, focus on comprehending the esoteric martial arts. Only then will you be able to grasp the mysteries of array formations."

"Yes, Master!" Fang Hao's eyes shone with determination. "I will definitely work hard and not let you down!"

"When cultivating the Dao, remember to be open-minded and free from attachments," Li Xuan advised. "Obsessing over it will only hinder your progress."

Fang Hao's heart stirred, and he replied, "Yes, Master. I understand!"

"Good, continue your endeavors," Li Xuan said, nodding. With a casual stride, he turned and began to walk away.

A sense of relief washed over him. "Finally, I've imparted the esoteric martial arts. Now, I await the results. I wonder how long it will take Fang Hao to comprehend it and how he will cultivate it."

Li Xuan's curiosity was piqued as he anticipated Fang Hao's progress.

Fang Hao sat cross-legged on the mountaintop, his mind filled with the esoteric martial arts as he endeavored to unravel its mysteries. The more he delved into it, the more profound it seemed.

This was unlike any ordinary martial art. It was a path less traveled, a unique and unconventional approach that went beyond his previous understanding of martial arts.

"Artifact refining, array formations, restrictions, esoteric formations, the mysteries of heaven and earth..." Fang Hao's mind raced as he contemplated the various aspects of the esoteric martial arts.

The array diagrams appeared in his mind, along with the theories and frameworks of artifact refining.

However, the most crucial aspect, the entry point to cultivating the esoteric martial arts, eluded him. He found it incredibly abstruse, and he couldn't fathom how to begin cultivating it.

"How does one cultivate the esoteric martial arts?" Fang Hao wondered aloud. "The cultivation techniques I've learned don't seem applicable to esoteric techniques. And cultivating the esoteric martial arts doesn't seem to follow the same path as cultivation techniques..."

Fang Hao took a deep breath and opened his eyes, gazing at the distant capital of Zhenguo, a majestic city that seemed to crouch like a beast upon the earth.

"This is my chance," he whispered to himself. "I will become a master of the esoteric martial arts and explore its pinnacle. I will make my name eternal in the history of martial arts... Whether it be Spirit Masters or noble clans, they shall all be as fleeting as clouds and smoke!"

In that moment, Fang Hao's resolve was unwavering, and he had found his life's purpose. Spirit Masters and noble clans may have reigned supreme, but throughout history, how many of them had crumbled to dust, their names forgotten?

He wanted his name to echo through the ages, and he yearned to reach the apex of martial arts.

The opportunity to change his destiny was within his grasp, and he was determined to seize it.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end